Uganda · Wildlife

3-Day Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tour from Entebbe with Batwa Walk

3 Days Round trip from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Trek through Bwindi's dense jungle for a close encounter with mountain gorillas
02 Spend one hour observing a habituated gorilla group in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
03 Join a Batwa community walk and hear firsthand insights into traditional forest life
04 See Batwa traditions demonstrated, including grass-thatched house building, herbal medicine, and fire-making

Join this 3-day journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a memorable gorilla trekking experience in southwestern Uganda. Travel from Entebbe with a stop at the equator, spend time in Bwindi's dense forest tracking mountain gorillas, and enjoy a community walk with the Batwa guides to learn about their traditional forest life and culture. The tour includes accommodation, meals as specified, park activities, and return transfer to Entebbe International Airport.

Once they are found, you will spend one hour with them at a distance of 10 meters.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Kampala, Entebbe, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Languages English, French, German, Swahili

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Transfer from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

On arrival, you will be picked up by our tour representative in Entebbe.
You will receive a briefing about your three days in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Then, you will embark on the journey to southwestern Uganda.
Along the way, you will stop at the equator for photography and lunch.
Afterward, continue driving straight to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Upon arrival, head to your booked accommodation and retire for the night.

Main destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Accommodation: Buhoma Haven.

Meals and drinks: Half board (one route meal).

Day 02

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

After an early morning breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters for a briefing.
In groups of 8 individuals, you will then head out into the jungle.
The tour guides will go ahead of you and allocate the gentle giants.
Once they are found, you will spend one hour with them at a distance of 10 meters.
Enjoy lunch in the jungle. At the end of this long and exciting adventure, you will return to your accommodation and rest.

Main destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Accommodation: Buhoma Haven.

Meals and drinks: Full board.

Day 03

Batwa Community Walk and Transfer to Entebbe Airport

After an early morning breakfast, head out for a community walk with the Batwa guides.
They will provide insights into traditional forest life, their culture, and how they lived before they were evicted from the forest.
You will see demonstrations of how grass-thatched houses were constructed, how traditional herbs were used to cure diseases, and how fire was made using sticks.
After the walk, head back to the accommodation and depart for Kampala.
On the way, you will stop for lunch and photography at the equator.
Then drive straight to the airport, where your three days at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park come to an end.

Main destination: Entebbe International Airport.

Meals and drinks: Half board (one route meal).

Where this trip takes you

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, mountain gorillas, the equator, Batwa community walk

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest 3 cities · 3 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Round-trip airport transfers (pick-up and drop-off)
Private transportation in 4x4 safari cars
Meals specified on a full-board basis
Accommodation with en-suite facilities
Applicable park entrance and activity fees
English-speaking professional driver-guide
Chimpanzee trekking permit fees
Gorilla trekking permit fees
All hotel/lodge pick-ups and drop-offs
All taxes
Bottled drinking water and fruits while on safari
Activities as stipulated in the itinerary, except those stated as optional

What's Not Included

Activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Flight fares (unless requested)
Country entry visa
Personal/travel insurance
Telephone charges
Laundry
Bar bills and all other kinds of drinks except water
Government-imposed increases in taxes and/or park fees
Souvenirs, gifts, and tips
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
COVID-19 and other related tests and vaccinations

What to bring

Wear comfortable hiking shoes suitable for steep, muddy slopes.
Use earplugs if you feel uncomfortable with jungle sounds.
Carry a packed lunch and enough drinking water.
Bring rain gear, sunscreen lotion, a hat, and insect repellent, as the weather is unpredictable.
Bring a camera for photos. Flash photography is not permitted.

Know before you go

Physical fitness:

An exciting and fun excursion to view mountain gorillas in Uganda requires that you be physically fit and, most importantly, maintain your fitness before setting out on the actual trek. A gorilla trek in Uganda can take around 2-6 hours and involves hiking through thick vegetation and steep slopes while searching for mountain gorillas.

On the way to the gorillas:

Please always keep your voices down so you can have a fun, engaging, and exciting experience in the forest. Look out for the amazing birdlife and other wildlife.
Make sure to take whatever you bring into the forest back out with you - do not leave any rubbish behind.
You will be taken to where the guides saw the gorillas the day before. After that, you will follow their trail to find them, so keep an eye out for their nesting sites along the way.

When you are with the gorillas:

A 7-meter (21-foot) distance should be observed at all times from the gorillas. The further back you are, the more relaxed the group will be.
You must stay in a tight group when you are near the gorillas.
Keep your voice down at all times. However, it is okay to ask the guide questions.
Do not smoke, drink, or eat when you are near the gorillas. Eating or drinking increases the risk of food or drink droplets falling, which could increase the risk of disease transmission.
Sometimes the gorillas charge. Follow the guide's example: crouch down slowly, do not look the gorillas directly in the eyes, and wait for the animals to pass. Do not attempt to run away, as that will increase the risk.
Flash photography is not permitted. When taking pictures, move slowly and carefully.
Do not touch the gorillas. They are wild animals.
The maximum time you can spend with the gorillas is one hour. However, if the gorillas become agitated or nervous, the guide will finish the visit early.
After the visit, keep your voice down until you are 200 meters away from the gorillas.

General health guidelines:

Remember that mountain gorillas are very susceptible to human diseases. The following guidelines are aimed at minimizing the risk your visit might pose to the gorillas.
Respect the limits imposed on the number of visitors allowed with the gorillas each day. This minimizes the risk of disease transmission and stress to the group.
If you are feeling ill or carrying a contagious disease, volunteer to stay behind. An alternate visit will be arranged for you, or you will be refunded your money.
If you feel the urge to cough or sneeze when you are near the gorillas, please turn your head away and cover your nose and mouth in order to minimize the spread of bacteria or viruses.
Always stay 7 meters (21 feet) away from the gorillas. This is to protect them from catching human diseases.
Do not leave any litter (e.g. food wrappers) in the park; foreign items can harbour diseases or other contaminants.
If you need the toilet while in the forest, please ask the guide to dig a hole with his panga. Make sure the hole is 30 cm deep and fill it in when you are finished.

Logistics